Saturday, July 30, 2011

Every time I see an ad or hear a commercial for some weight loss program, I come to the same conclusion:

It's a scam, they are lying and are stealing people's money.

The worst part? Not only are they ripping people off, but they're giving people false hope. If you fall for a rip-off pill or fad diet, the following is 100% guaranteed to take place:

1.) The only weight you will lose will be in your purse or wallet when you spend money on that nonsense.

2.) Whatever weight you lose will immediately be gained back, plus more, making the entire effort not only futile, but counter-productive.

3.) Your health could potentially be put in danger by some of these diet pills, which are really supplements that are not FDA approved.

Over the years, I've been on the weight loss roller coaster and lost and gained hundred of pounds. The reality of the situation is there really is no easy answer. Different things work for different people, but I think people need to find out what works for them.

Talk to your doctor. See a registered dietitian. Meet with a trainer. Start out slow. Get some exercise. Don't expect quick results.

Doesn't sound very exciting, does it?

Everything anybody needs to lose weight is in their regular grocery store. Sidewalks are free. Start out slow and forget about quick results.

There are some good diets. From what I can tell, Weight Watchers is pretty good, even though I've never done it. The Dash diet is a good one if you have high blood pressure.

Just don't fall for the gimmicks. Oh, and the weight loss patch only works if you put it over your mouth.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Well, I weighed in today for the first time in 2 weeks and only lost 2 pounds.

That's right, 2 lousy pounds in 2 whole weeks. It's a little bit of a bummer, but really, it isn't. 2 things have contributed to this:

1.) I have not been working out at all this week and hardly any last week. I pulled a muscle in my rib cage and messed up my knee. So that lack of exercise is going to contribute to it.

2.) I have been eating slightly more. Maybe just 200-300 calories a day. It shouldn't really matter, but along with the lack of exercise, it apparently does.

But, I can't worry about it. I decided a long time ago that this wasn't a weight loss contest. My goal is to get and stay healthy. I know I can eat the amount that I'm eating and still lose weight. The injuries will heal, the exercise will increase and I'll be right back on this blog 2 weeks from now talking about losing more weight.

This is why I always tell people to stay away from weighing all the time. As much as it provides that number to tell you where you are, it can also drive you up the wall and discourage you.

A study by Tufts University shows that 1 in 5 calorie counts on menus are wrong. And not just a little wrong...some by hundreds of calories. So how do you eat out while trying to lose weight?

In my opinion, you don't. The problem is not being in a restaurant, the problem is you have no idea what these people are putting in their dishes. Sure, you would expect a small variation...say, maybe up to 50 calories, give or take...but hundreds of calories?

Friday, July 8, 2011

I am only 5 pounds away from being able to weigh on just about any scale, at least the ones with a 350-pound weight limit. To date, I've been able to lose 222 pounds and am 155 pounds away from my goal of 200. I expect it to take another year to reach my goal.

I don't really look forward to weighing in. Weight loss is a side effect of what I'm doing, not the ultimate goal on a daily basis. I just want to get and stay healthy.

I say this over and over again, but it bears repeating: if I can do this, anyone can. What are you waiting for? Put down the soda, get out of the drive-thru and start living your life. There is something better out there for you, you just have to grab it.